She Will (2021)

Astounding - She Will review by sb

FILM & REVIEW Charlotte Colberts astounding gothic drama has Krige as Veronica an ageing actress recovering from cancer surgery and with her paid nurse Desi (Eberheart) travels by train to a remote Scottish retreat. She is under the impression it’s a solitary retreat but due a mix-up the booking she is saddled with all manner of new age crystal fixated odd-balls precided over by a very camp Everett. She is horrified by this development and retreats to a cottage with just Desi. It’s revealed she had a break through role at 13 playing opposite Malcolm McDowell and it’s made pretty obvious it’s was not a healthy experience and it seems he is remaking the film again with another 13 year old to be cast. The landscape is very heavily peaty and it’s explained that they burned so many witches that their ashes mingled with the soil which seems to have supernatural qualities. Not going to give away any more as it has to be experienced - the brooding atmosphere , the growing sense of dread and an extraordinary sound scape/ score by Clint Mansell ( I can only compare it to Under the Skin in effect). Both leads are excellent but it’s the brooding landscape and the effect it exerts that stays with you - exec produced by Dario Argento it’s a truly astounding debut 5/5